At first blush, the NBA odds appear to be a bit steep on the Warriors vs. a team that is well above .500 and universally considered to be a playoff-caliber club. And when one considers that the last time these teams played, the only time they have met this season, it was the Thunder trouncing the Warriors 108-91 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. So we have the team that won by 17 points actually getting a 10-point head start in their second meeting. That could be viewed as a head-scratcher to the uninitiated.

However, what happened almost three months ago at a different venue has little bearing on what will happen tonight in Golden State. The Warriors are undoubtedly aware of the shellacking they took and will be out for a little payback. In addition, the Warriors have dominated this series in games played in their own backyard, winning and covering seven of their last eight contests against the Thunder.

Oklahoma City has been slumping recently, having lost outright and failing to cover the number in their last four contests. I advised fading them against the Lakers on Sunday, and that proved to be prescient as LA not only covered the spread as 9½ point road underdogs but won the game outright 108-104. I see another loss tonight for OKC and the one-man-band that is Russell Westbrook. The Warriors are too deep and too talented for a team like Oklahoma City that relies on one or two playmakers to keep the wheels spinning. As good as Westbrook and Paul George are, they need their teammates to come alive and that has not happened recently. Lay the lumber with Golden State in your NBA picks.